Ecclesiastes 11 1

Ecclesiastes 11:1 kjv

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 nkjv

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 niv

Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 esv

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 nlt

Send your grain across the seas,
and in time, profits will flow back to you.

Ecclesiastes 11 verses

Ecclesiastes 11 1 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 11:1 urges deliberate generosity, seemingly against immediate visible returns, by encouraging the investment of resources ("bread") into endeavors with uncertain or delayed outcomes ("upon the waters"). It conveys a message of courageous giving and industriousness, trusting that one's efforts, especially in generosity or wise venture, will eventually yield a return, though it may take a considerable time ("after many days"). It balances the practical wisdom of diligent effort with an understanding of life's inherent unpredictability, suggesting that faith-filled actions, even when they seem without immediate benefit, are ultimately rewarded.

Ecclesiastes 11 1 Context

Ecclesiastes 11:1 stands within the concluding chapters of Qoheleth’s exploration of life's meaning "under the sun." Having demonstrated the futility and transience of worldly pursuits without God (Eccl 1:1-6:12), and the uncertainty and inscrutability of life (Eccl 7:1-10:20), the author transitions into practical admonitions for wise living despite these realities. Chapter 11 particularly focuses on seizing opportunities and exercising wisdom in an unpredictable world. It precedes warnings about youth, old age, and the ultimate accountability before God. The verse’s call to "cast your bread upon the waters" is a pragmatic instruction for risk-taking and generous living in a world where outcomes are not guaranteed, but actions are nonetheless important. It shifts from intellectual resignation to practical application, urging diligent effort, generosity, and wise stewardship in light of an uncertain future and a distant, yet real, reckoning.

Ecclesiastes 11 1 Word analysis

• Cast (שלח - shalach): This Hebrew verb primarily means "to send," "send out," "stretch out," or "release." Here, it implies an intentional, purposeful action of dispatching or investing something, but also suggests releasing control over it once it has been "sent out." It denotes a decisive and perhaps even sacrificial act, not merely an incidental one. The act of "casting" implies an absence of direct retrieval in the short term, requiring faith or long-term vision.

• Your bread (לחמך - lachmekha): The Hebrew lechem generally refers to "bread" but is broadly used for "food," "sustenance," or "livelihood." In a broader sense, it can represent one's resources, labor, investment, or even life-giving actions. This is not leftover bread but a portion of one's vital sustenance, implying an investment or giving of something significant. It underscores that what is given or risked is valuable and essential.

• Upon the waters (על פני המים - al p’nei ha’mayim): This is the most evocative and debated phrase.

  • Upon (על - al): Denotes being "on" or "over" a surface.
  • The face of the waters (פני המים - p’nei ha’mayim): This precise phrase evokes Genesis 1:2 ("the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters"). The "waters" can refer to:
    • Literal waterways/seas: Indicating long-distance trade or commerce by ship, where goods (like grain, lechem) are shipped with inherent risks but potential for high returns.
    • Flooded lands: A less common but plausible interpretation suggests agricultural practice in ancient Mesopotamia or Egypt where rice or other grains were sown on inundated fields, which would then recede.
    • Vastness and Uncertainty: More metaphorically, "waters" represent things that are vast, uncontrollable, and unpredictable. Casting "bread upon the waters" could mean performing acts of generosity (charity, good deeds) that appear to vanish or offer no immediate or tangible return, like bread sinking in water. Yet, the verse insists on eventual discovery. This highlights actions that require trust in a hidden or distant outcome. It also hints at divine mystery – like the Spirit hovering over formless waters, actions undertaken in faith in a realm of uncertainty will nonetheless bear fruit.

• For you will find it (כי תמצאנו - ki timtza’ennu): The word ki means "for" or "because," indicating a consequence or reason. "You will find it" is a promise of return or discovery. This suggests that despite the apparent loss or lack of immediate reward, the investment is not in vain. The verb matza (to find) implies that the return may not come directly to the one who initially cast, nor may it be in the same form as the original "bread." It reinforces the wisdom of proactive giving or investing, rather than withholding due to perceived risk.

• After many days (ברוב הימים - b'rov ha'yamim): This phrase emphasizes delay and patience. The reward is not immediate, requiring sustained effort, long-term perspective, and trust. It could be days, months, or years, signifying a period of waiting where the fruit of the action is not visible. This aligns with a mature understanding of consequence in a world not always offering instant gratification, and reinforces the need for faith in delayed outcomes, often a feature of divine providence.

Ecclesiastes 11 1 Bonus section

This verse often forms a practical counterpoint to some of the more melancholic or existential reflections elsewhere in Ecclesiastes. While the book frequently highlights the "vanity" or "futility" (hevel) of many earthly endeavors, Ecclesiastes 11:1 presents an actionable wisdom that finds meaning precisely in engagement, giving, and long-term investment. It's not about passive resignation but active faith within life's limits. The imagery of "waters" can also subtly link to chaos or the unknown, suggesting that even in unpredictable circumstances, wise and generous actions have enduring value. This proactive approach underscores the Bible's broader theme that human agency, when exercised in faith and according to divine principles, contributes to God's ultimate plan, even when the immediate outcomes remain obscure to us.

Ecclesiastes 11 1 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 11:1 offers a compelling metaphor for wisdom in a complex and often uncertain world. It is fundamentally an exhortation to proactive, generous, and strategic action. "Casting your bread upon the waters" speaks to investing one's resources, time, or good deeds into ventures or acts of kindness where the immediate outcome or return is unclear, much like a merchant sending goods overseas hoping for a distant profit, or a farmer planting seeds without knowing the harvest. This act requires courage and a forward-looking perspective, trusting that despite the seeming risk or initial loss (the bread potentially sinking or floating away), a benefit or return will eventually manifest.

The verse counters a purely risk-averse or cynical view of life. While Qoheleth acknowledges life's fleeting nature and uncontrollable events, he nonetheless advocates for diligence and generosity. The "many days" highlight the patience required, suggesting that the rewards for such investments—be they material, spiritual, or relational—are not immediate but come in due course. It echoes principles of sowing and reaping, charitable giving, and diligent labor, asserting a divine economy where good actions are ultimately honored. In essence, it teaches active faith in a benevolent, though often hidden, divine order, encouraging individuals to act benevolently and industriously, understanding that God’s recompense often operates on a long timeline, ensuring that nothing done in righteousness is ultimately wasted.

Practical usage:

• A believer volunteering time for a cause, even when it feels like small impact.
• Someone giving generously to a struggling family, with no expectation of being repaid.
• An entrepreneur investing in a venture with a long return horizon and significant upfront risk.
• Mentoring someone knowing the fruits of their development might take years to become evident.